French unions call for further action against increase in retirement age

French labour unions on Wednesday called for a second wave of strikes on 23 September to oppose the new minimum retirement age just one day after mass protests brought more than a million people onto the streets.

Private and public sector workers demonstrate over pension reform in Lille REUTERS

Six major unions issued a joint statement saying they were not satisfied by what they consider minor modifications offered by President Nicolas Sarkozy to his reform plan after Tuesday's strike.

They called on French workers to make 23 September "a major day of strikes and demonstrations" to fight the reform, which they see as an unfair burden on French  workers.

The statement came after Sarkozy insisted on Wednesday that there will be no backtracking on a new retirement age. He believes it is the essential element of the plan aimed at reducing France’s high budget deficit.

Unions have put forward counter proposals including calls for taxes on certain bonuses and on the highest incomes to help fund the pension system.

They also condemn the absence of exceptions for women who stop work to raise a family and those working in jobs with little or no security.

The National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, is to vote on the reform bill on 15 September.

But CFDT union secretary general François Chérèque says the game is not over, as the bill has yet to go before the Senate on  5 October.

Final adoption is expected by the end of October.

Following Tuesday's mass protests, opinion polls show 55% think the government should drop the new minimum retirement age altogether, while 62% think there should be further action to call for more improvements.

CFDT number two, Marcel Grignard, called for opposition to continue and intensify in order to scupper the government’s plans.